A Complete Guide to Liposuction for Men

The popularity of liposuction for men is soaring. While strict exercise regimes, healthy eating, and weight training are proven methods for shedding excess weight, sometimes they can only do so much. Despite their best efforts, many men are often left with stubborn pockets of fat that conventional methods just won’t shift.

Thankfully, cosmetic surgery for men is becoming increasingly effective. This has led to a significant increase in popularity, with liposuction surgery being one of the top five most popular cosmetic treatments for men in the UK in 2019. For many men, liposuction has helped them to achieve the figure that they’d worked so hard towards for so long.

But, what exactly does male liposuction entail, how does the procedure work, and how much does it cost? Below, we’ve looked into this in more detail to create a complete guide to liposuction for men.

What Is Liposuction Surgery?

Liposuction — often referred to as ‘lipo’ — is a cosmetic procedure that involves the removal of fat from a certain area of the body. While this may sound complicated, it’s actually a relatively straightforward procedure that doesn’t usually require the use of general anaesthesia. Lipo for men is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning that you can return home on the same day as your surgery. However, it’s worth nothing that this can vary depending on the complexity of your procedure.

There are a few different techniques used for liposuction surgery. Below, we’ve outlined the most commonly undertaken methods.

• Tumescent liposuction: This involves the injection of a saline, epinephrine, and lidocaine solution to sterilise the treated area and ease pain and blood loss. Fat is then extracted via a suction.

• Laser Lipolysis: A laser-assisted technique in which fat is ruptured and liquified by a laser before being extracted.

• Vaser Liposuction: An ultrasound-assisted method during which innovative ultrasound technology is used to accurately target and remove the unwanted fat.

• Water-Jet Assisted Liposuction (WAL): WAL uses a pressurised saline stream to loosen fat cells and allow for gentle and easy removal.

Where Can I Get Male Liposuction?

Liposuction can tackle any area of the body with excess fat, from your chin down to your ankle. However, there are a few locations in which the treatment can be most effective in tackling stubborn weight.

Liposuction for Men: Popular Treatment Areas

• Arms - While this is usually a more popular target area among women, it can be effective for men too, helping to tighten the skin and remove excess fat.

• Thighs - The inner and outer thighs are a popular choice for male lipo, especially for those who are unhappy about their inner thighs rubbing together. Outer thigh liposuction is often performed in conjunction with another area such as the hips.

• Abdomen - Achieving a flat stomach can be frustratingly difficult, even with a strict exercise regime. Male liposuction in this area often aims to both flatten the stomach, as well as create a more defined look.

• Chest - Lipo for men often focuses on the chest area, removing unwanted fat that occurs around the male breast. However, depending on the amount of fat that needs removed, liposuction may not always be effective here and a surgical procedure like male breast reduction might be a more suitable choice.

• Chin - Male liposuction around the chin is popular among those who are looking for a more prominently defined jawline. While this is more common amongst older men, it can be suitable for the younger demographic too.

• Hips - Hip liposuction is becoming increasingly undertaken. Lipo around this area can help to remove stubborn fat that can be hard to shift through routine exercise.

Other common areas of treatment include:

• Upper and lower back

• Buttocks

• Knees

• Calves

• Ankles

Wherever you’re looking to have liposuction surgery performed, it’s important to remember that this treatment isn’t designed to provide a quick solution to weight loss. In fact, those who are significantly overweight may not be eligible for lipo and may be recommended to consider a type of weight loss surgery instead.

How Much Is Liposuction for Men?

Men’s liposuction costs have become more affordable in recent years. With that being said, there’s no set price for the treatment as it can vary based on a number of different factors. Arguably the biggest factor affecting men’s liposuction costs is location. Prices for the treatment vary significantly from country to country, with male liposuction costs in the UK typically being a lot more expensive than in other European countries. Lipo in Turkey, for example, is one of the most popular destinations for men looking to undergo this treatment, thanks to their combination of low prices, state-of-the-art facilities, and world renowned doctors.

Other than location, liposuction prices can also be affected by the area of the body in which the treatment is being performed, how many areas are being targeted, and the amount of fat that’s being removed. The type of lipo that you choose will also affect the cost, with tumescent liposuction often being more affordable compared to the laser-assisted or ultrasound-assisted alternatives.

Liposuction for Men: Am I Eligible?

While liposuction surgery can be a great procedure for shifting stubborn fat, it may not be suitable for everyone. The procedure isn’t designed to enable significant weight loss, mainly because the weight of the fat that’s removed during the surgery is fairly low. If you’re interested in undergoing lipo but are not yet happy with your current Body Mass Index (BMI), then now may not be the time for you to undergo the treatment. Liposuction candidates also shouldn’t be planning to lose — or gain — a significant amount of weight in the future.

Ideal candidates are usually fit and healthy, but have small areas of fat that they’re struggling to shift through conventional diets and exercise regimes. These are the areas which male liposuction can tackle most effectively. Preferred candidates also have good skin elasticity and muscle tone. This will help the skin to shrink following the removal of the fat. However, treatments such as a body lift can be effective in tackling any excess skin that’s left behind. It’s also worth noting that skin elasticity often decreases with age, which can make older men less eligible for lipo.

Before undergoing male liposuction, it’s important to remember that the procedure is irreversible. Fat cells are permanently removed, meaning that the fat cannot return to the treated areas. This doesn’t prevent future weight gain though, as fat can still be deposited elsewhere in the body.

Liposuction for Men: How Does It Work?

Prior to undergoing lipo, it’s important to have an initial consultation with your doctor. This is your opportunity to discuss what you hope the surgery will achieve and the specific areas in which you would like the treatment to tackle. While male liposuction is a relatively straightforward procedure, it’s important to find a high-quality doctor that you trust. This will ensure not only that the treatment is performed at a high standard, but also that you feel comfortable and relaxed going into it.

Depending on the type of liposuction you choose to undergo, the exact details of the treatment will vary. However, for tumescent liposuction, a local anaesthetic is administered along with a mild sedative to numb the target area. Small incisions — typically around 6-8mm — are then made at a previously agreed location on the body. Incisions are usually made in a discrete area, like a natural crease, in order to keep any visible scarring to a minimum.

Once the incisions have been created, a small tube known as a cannula is inserted to remove the fat cells. By moving the cannula around, the surgeon can disrupt the fat tissues, allowing for easier extraction. The cannula is then attached to a vacuum which uses suction to extra the unwanted fat tissue. Once the fat has been removed, the incision is closed using stitches or dissolvable sutures and a compression garment may be issued to protect the treated area. The whole procedure usually takes around 1-3 hours and most patients are able to return home the same day, depending on the complexity of their surgery.

What to Expect Following Treatment

Following a male liposuction procedure, it’s common to experience swelling, bruising, inflammation, and pain around the treated area. You will likely be given a compression garment that may need to be worn for up to six weeks, however, this can vary from patient to patient depending on the individual case. These can help to reduce bruising and swelling, as well as ease any pain following surgery. Your surgeon may also advise taking painkillers to ease any pain, and antibiotics to reduce infection risks.

General recovery times vary between individual cases. Depending on the amount of fat extracted, and the number of areas treated, a return to work can usually be made after around 2-3 days. However, try to avoid bending over as much as possible during the first week following treatment and strenuous activities like heavy lifting should be completely avoided for around four weeks.

Post-op swelling and bruising might make it hard to see but fat loss should be fairly clear immediately after your surgery. However, full results will begin to appear gradually, as the swelling eases over time. In most cases, significant changes will become apparent after around four weeks, but in some cases it can take up to six months for the final results to show.

Can You Get Male Liposuction on the NHS?

Since liposuction for men is primarily a cosmetic procedure, it’s not normally covered by the NHS. However, in certain cases the treatment may be covered to tackle health conditions such as lymphoedema — a chronic condition that causes swelling, most commonly in the arms and legs — and lipoedema — a condition that results in an abnormal fat build-up in the buttocks, thighs, and legs. While liposuction may not be able to permanently cure these conditions, it can certainly help to ease them and minimise uncomfortable fluid build-up.

Liposuction Alternatives: Tummy Tuck

If you feel that liposuction surgery isn’t the right option for you, then there are other options available. One of the most popular alternatives is a tummy tuck, known medically as abdominoplasty. This is a surgical procedure that involves the permanent removal of excess skin and fat around the abdominal area to create a thinner figure. Although it’s often undertaken by women following pregnancy, a tummy tuck is also popular among men, whether undergone as a standalone procedure or alongside liposuction surgery.

Similarly to male liposuction costs, tummy tuck prices can vary, especially between different European countries. As it’s a procedure that’s not normally offered on the NHS, many men choose to travel abroad for the surgery in order to find high-quality care at a much more affordable price.

Liposuction Surgery for Men: How to Get Started

At Qunomedical, we’re here to help you find high-quality care, at an affordable price. Whether you’re ready to book, or are just looking for more information on liposuction for men, contact us. One of our Patient Managers will be in touch to help in any way they can. After getting to know you and your individual situation, you’ll be provided with a 100% free, non-binding assessment, regardless of whether you go on to book a treatment or not. If you do decide to move forward, your Patient Manager will be your personal point of contact, all the way through to your successful recovery.